Is Guatemala Worth Visiting? 7 Reasons to Travel
Full of smoky volcanoes, giant markets and some of the most novel culture, Guatemala is a must-visit when in Central America.
Here we can see many incredible bucket-list destinations such as Lake Atitlán, Acatenango Volcano and Tikal Ruins, and you could easily overstay here once you get into the swing of things.
In this article, we’ll list some of the best reasons to visit Guatemala, as well as cover any other important information you’ll need to know.
Is Guatemala Worth Visiting?
Quick answer: Yes, we 100% believe it is! Along with the diverse nation of Costa Rica, Guatemala is one of the most popular countries you can visit in this region.
The variety of sceneries you can see here is definitely one of the biggest pulls, which includes ancient Mayan ruins within the jungle as well as giant volcanoes around the Guatemalan highlands.
We can also visit black-sand beaches on the Pacific coast, and explore historical towns such as Antigua and Chichicastenango.
Despite so many tourists coming, this country still keeps its raw culture in spades too. You’ll be able to board a Chicken Bus with locals in traditional clothing to get around the cities, and also head into markets to try local cuisine such as Chiles Rellenos and Pepián de Pollo.
Where is Guatemala?
Guatemala is located in the far north of Central America, and is bordered by Mexico to the north, Belize to the east as well as Honduras and El Salvador to the south. It has quite a varied climate, with jungle, highlands and beaches found throughout the diverse nation.
The best time to visit Guatemala is during the dry season, which runs from November until April. This period has little showers and lots of clear blue skies, making it perfect for outdoor exploring. Ideally we’d suggest visiting in November or February which aren’t as busy. You can see this guide on the best time to go to Guatemala for more advice.
Is Guatemala Safe?
An important part of your trip planning is knowing how to stay safe, and also to be aware of any particular risks here in Guatemala.
Most touristy areas (such as the safe Lake Atitlán, Antigua and Flores) are fine for you to walk around with little issues, although pickpocketing can still be a risk. Always take care when heading on public transport and visiting busy markets, and never leave any personal belongings out of sight.
If visiting Guatemala City then you’ll want to be extra careful given robbery and violent crimes are more likely.
We suggest staying in Zones 4, 9 and 10 which are the safest, and also to leave anything valuable back in your apartment when heading out to explore the city.
Got travel insurance for Antigua, Guatemala?
7 Reasons to Visit Guatemala
Are you still wondering if Guatemala is really worth the visit? Here’s 7 awesome reasons why you should explore this iconic Central American nation.
1. Explore Tikal Ruins Within The Guatemalan Jungle
The ancient Maya were a formidable civilisation that existed for thousands of years, and ruled an area that stretched from modern-day Yucatán in Mexico down to El Salvador.
There are many incredible ruins to visit within this region, however you can’t get any better than those of Tikal. Located in the north of Guatemala near Flores, here we can climb giant pyramids and see legendary creations whilst also exploring the wild jungle.
We highly recommend heading on this all-inclusive day tour from Flores, which includes all transport, lunch and a private guide to teach you everything you need to know about this historic Mayan site.
2. See the Colonial Highlights of Antigua
Once the capital of Guatemala, Antigua is full of beautiful architecture which you could spend days wandering around.
The Santa Catalina Arch is perhaps one of the most famous, which is yellow-stained with an old clock on its face.
Whilst mazing around its various cobblestone streets, you can also visit the Parque Central which is home to many important and picturesque buildings (such as the Palacio de Ayuntamiento and the Catedral San José).
When in Antigua be sure to also hike up to the viewpoint on Cerro de la Cruz, where you can see everything in perspective with the giant active volcanoes looming in the background. Which leads well onto our next point…
3. Visit the Black Sand Beaches along the Pacific Coast
Whilst Guatemala is rightfully known for its diverse landscapes and scenery, little attention is paid to the Pacific Coast (where travellers tend to instead head south to the beaches of La Libertad in El Salvador).
However there are some really iconic beaches to visit around here, and especially so since they have black sand which was caused by volcanic activity in the surrounding areas.
Monterrico Beach is one of the best to visit here, as well as El Paredón which are both just a couple of hours away from Antigua.
Monterrico has more of an authentic feel and is cheaper if you are looking to stay for a couple of nights, whilst El Paredón is easier to get to. Regardless of which beach you pick, be sure to charge your phone up in order to take some really memorable coastal photos!
4. Hike the Fiery Acatenango Volcano
Guatemala (and much of Central America) is home to many outstanding volcanoes – however Acatenango easily takes the cherry of them all.
Still active to this day, we can often see spurts of lava and ash from atop which make for some truly unbelievable photos.
We highly recommend joining this overnight hike where you’ll camp at the top of an adjacent volcano. Not only will you see bright red lava from atop, you’ll also be met with an incredible sunrise before starting your descent back down.
As well as including your transport to and from the volcano, you’ll have all meals, a sleeping bag, a tent as well as a comfortable mattress all included. They even provide hot drinks too which is perfect for when sitting out at night gazing at Acatenango and the starlit sky.
5. Learn Spanish with a novel Homestay Experience
Did you know that Guatemala is one of the best places to learn Spanish within Latin America?
Not only is it full of culture and easy on the wallet, friendly locals also open their doors to curious travelers who want to have an authentic homestay experience.
Here you’ll also have Spanish lessons to pick up some basic lingo, which will come in very handy whilst traveling around the rest of Guatemala and Central America.
Overall it’s a great way of complimenting your trip, and changing things up instead of just seeing sight after sight as usual.
You can learn more about Dan’s Guatemala Homestay Experience, where he also made some pretty tasty chocolate too.
6. Head on a Boat Tour around Lake Atitlán
No trip around Guatemala can be truly complete without visiting the sacred Lake Atitlán.
Surrounded by towering volcanoes, just sitting by the lakeshore can be entertaining for hours as you get the perfect photo shots.
However we can also explore various Mayan towns around the lake by boat. This includes San Marcos, San Pedro La Laguna as well as Santa Cruz, which all have a different vibe and are worth getting to know (ideally you can spend a full day at each to really get a feel for each one).
Those who are in nearby Antigua can head on this epic day tour, where you’ll visit various ancient towns along your itinerary. As well as all transport to and from Lake Atitlán, you’ll also have included all boat transfers between the towns.
7. Search for Beautiful Garments and Handicrafts within the Chichicastenango Market
The largest market in all of Central America, Chichicastenango is a real beast that really kicks into gear in the late week and weekends.
Here you can see stalls that seemingly go on forever, and inside it’s easy to spend hours browsing incredible souvenirs and garments for great prices.
Textiles are definitely the most popular buy here (including woven bags and colorful rugs), not to mention you can find some really well-made wooden handicrafts too.
You’ll encounter plenty of local foods worth trying here, although be sure to only eat at busy places to avoid catching any stomach bugs (remember that locals know best!). Chichicastenango Market is best to visit on Thursdays and Sundays, which are prime market days.
Is Guatemala Worth Visiting?
And that’s all for our guide on why you should visit Guatemala.
Everyone should visit Guatemala at least once in their lifetime, where we can hike fiery volcanoes and try some of the best coffee around.
There’s also heaps of ancient Mayan ruins here, and we can also walk around beautiful towns from the more recent Spanish colonial period.
Be sure to read our Backpacking Guatemala Itinerary for more ideas on how to plan your own route around this diverse Central American country.
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